Hydraulic-elastomeric mount with bypass through decoupler

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic-elastomeric mount has a pair of liquid filled chambers formed by elastomeric walls and separated by a rigid partition having an orifice that connects the chambers to effect damping. The partition supports a damping decoupler for limited reciprocal movement so as to effect cyclic volume change in the chambers to eliminate damping under certain conditions. A bypass through the decoupler acts to smoothen the transition between damping and no damping and also lowers the damping level to a prescribed value.

FlELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hydraulic-elastomeric mount decouplers and more particularly to reducing the abruptness of decoupling and also lowering the damping level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In hydraulic-elastomeric mounts such as used for mounting an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, a hydraulic damping decoupler can be employed to eliminate undesirable hydraulic damping at certain small vibratory amplitudes and low frequencies and thereby better isolate the vibrations of the engine under these conditions. Such decouplers are normally reciprocating devices which are mounted on a partition separating the two orifice connected chambers of the mount and operate to effect alternating volume change in the chambers so as to not force flow through the orifice and thereby eliminate damping in this mode. Examples of such mounts are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,588,173 and 4,765,601 assigned to the assignee of this invention.

While the performance of such decouplers has proven generally satisfactory, it was found that they typically slap against the partition surfaces determining the limits of their movement and that such slaps can produce a discernible noise that is objectionable. However, it was further found that this noise problem could be solved by constructing the decoupler with faces that cause the decoupler to rock rather than slap and by additionally allowing some bypass flow around the decoupler to smooth the transition between damping and no damping (decoupling); that is, reduce the abruptness of decoupling. These solutions are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,679,777 and 4,664,363, respectively, assigned to the assignee of this invention.

While these solutions to the noise problem have proven satisfactory, the manner of constructing the bypass around the decoupler has been found to be critical to producing consistent results. For example, in the above U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,363, the bypass is constructed as a passage between the decoupler and the side of the partition opening in which it is mounted with a baffle and reservoir then further added to the partition to assure the maintenance of some damping and smooth decoupler operation. But because of manufacturing tolerances, it is difficult to maintain all this structure in precise relationship to obtain the exact results desired. Furthermore, this bypass construction involves considerable redesign work where it is desired to change the spring rate and/or damping characteristics for a different application of the mount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to preventing such decoupler generated noise in a much more simple cost-effective manner with an improved construction that is readily adaptable (tuneable) to cover a wide range of usage with only nominal tool and piece cost and timing. It has been discovered that by eliminating or preventing bypass around the decoupler and instead simply constructing one or more bypass ports directly through the decoupler in parallel with the normal damping orifice of characteristically long length and small diameter, smooth noiseless damping operation equivalent to that with a bypass with baffle and reservoir around the decoupler is achieved by then tuning the diameter and length of the bypass port(s) to obtain the desired results. That is, by simply adjusting the diameter-to-length ratio of the bypass port and the number of such ports, it is possible to achieve essentially the same variable damping and spring rate as a mount with the bypass around the decoupler at the same frequencies and forced amplitudes. Moreover, it was further discovered that a basic mount could then be designed with the highest damping level expected in usage and that the bypass ports then be tuned to reduce the damping to that required for other usages where lesser damping gives better isolation to the vibrations.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hydraulic-elastomeric mount.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic-elastomeric mount with bypass through the decoupler that smoothens decoupling.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic-elastomeric mount with a bypass through the decoupler that smoothens decoupling and also lowers damping to a desired level.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic-elastomeric mount with the highest level expected in usage and with one or more bypass ports in the decoupler that are tuneable to reduce the damping to required lower levels for other usages.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view partially in section of a hydraulic-elastomeric mount incorporating the decoupler with bypass of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hydraulic-elastomeric mount in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of certain parts of the hydraulic-elastomeric mount in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the decoupler from FIG. 7 showing the decoupler in its other extreme position.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the decoupler with bypass in the previous Figures.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the decoupler but with another embodiment of the bypass according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hydraulic-elastomeric mount incorporating the decoupler with bypass of the present invention as adapted for mounting an internal combustion engine in a vehicle. The mount has a generally rectangular shape as viewed from the side in FIG. 1 and a generally oval shape as viewed from the top in FIG. 2 and comprises a yoke-shape cast aluminum mounting member 10 and an oval dish-shaped stamped sheet metal mounting member 12. The mounting members 10 and 12 each have a pair of studs 14 and 16 respectively projecting outward therefrom for attachment respectively to an engine (not shown) and an engine supporting member such as a frame or cradle (not shown) of the vehicle. A hollow elastomeric body 18 of natural or synthetic rubber interconnects the mounting members 10 and 12 and to this end is molded to and about the yoke-shaped mounting member 10 and to both the interior and exterior of an oval-shaped stamped sheet metal retainer 20.

The elastomeric body is configured such that it essentially completely defines a hollow cavity 22 therein extending beneath and about the yoke-shaped mounting member 10 and interiorly of the retaining member 20 so as to positively prevent any leakage from the cavity outwardly past these parts while also having extensive surface attachment therewith. Moreover, the mounting member 10 with its studs 14, the elastomeric body 18 and the retainer 20 form a subassembly shown and designated as 24 in FIG. 5. It will be seen that the subassembly 24 is configured such that the elastomeric body can be molded to these parts in a conventional two-piece mold without separate or lose core pieces using either injection or transfer molding and with little finishing such as flash rubber removal required. And this includes the formation of directional rate control effecting voids within the elastomeric body itself and as a part of the liquid cavity. For example, with oppositely located voids 26 between the yoke 10 and retainer 20 at the remotest ends of the mount as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, the mount is provided with a high or hard rate in one crosswise direction and both a relatively soft or low rate at low amplitudes and a non-linear high or hard rate at high amplitudes in a direction transverse thereto (vertical and horizontal directions respectively as viewed from the top in FIG. 2). As is well known in the art, such differences in rates are especially useful in isolating certain combustion engine vibrations.

The retainer 20 has an outwardly projecting collar 28 at its lower periphery with a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs 30 which are initially formed to project straight downward to allow the collar 28 to receive a second subassembly 32 as shown in FIG. 5. The latter subassembly 32 comprises the other mounting member 12, an oval-shaped elastomeric diaphragm 34 of natural or synthetic rubber, an oval-shaped partition and orifice assembly 36 and a hydraulic damping decoupler 37. The elastomeric diaphragm 34 has an annular rim section 38 with a radially inwardly facing internal groove 39 and with the shoulder 40 on the side of the groove opposite the spanning central portion 42 of the diaphragm being flexible to receive the periphery of the partition and orifice assembly 36. The periphery of the partition and orifice assembly is thus sandwiched as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7 between the shoulder 40 and the shoulder 46 on the opposite side of the groove, the latter shoulder being formed integral with and extending radially outward from the central diaphragm portion 42 to join the latter with the diaphragm rim portion 38.

The lower mounting member 12 is formed with a collar 52 to receive the rim 38 of the diaphragm 34 with the partition and orifice assembly 36 in place and the damping decoupler 37 having been previously assembled to the latter as will be described in more detail later and with such subassembly then adapted to be fit into the collar 28 of the retainer 20 of the other subassembly 24 prior to bending over of the tabs 30 to retain the whole mount assembly together. In such fit, the lower mounting member 12 is telescopically received in the retainer collar 28 with the rim 38 of the diaphragm pressed therebetween whereafter the tabs 30 of the retainer are bent over the collar 52 of the lower mounting member to retain the subassemblies 24 and 32 together as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7. In such assembly, the upper edge 60 of the collar 52 of the lower mounting member 12 engages the radial shoulder 62 of the collar 28 of the retainer 20 to determine the preload on the diaphragm rim 38 which plays a part in amplitude control as well as sealing as will be described in more detail later.

The elastomeric diaphragm 34 closes the elastomeric body 18 so as to form therewith a closed cavity generally designated as 64 which is divided by the partition and orifice assembly 36 into a primary chamber 66 enclosed by the elastomeric body 18 and a secondary chamber 68 enclosed by the diaphragm 34. However, prior to the closure of the cavity 64 at assembly, it is filled, as will be described in further detail later, with a liquid such as a commercial engine anti-freeze coolant.

Assuming at this point that there is an orifice interconnecting the chambers 66 and 68, liquid in the primary chamber is forced to flow through such orifice at a restricted rate into the secondary chamber upon contraction of the primary chamber and in the opposite direction on expansion thereof to thereby provide a damping effect. Upon contraction of the primary chamber 66, the wall section 72 of the elastomeric body 18 extending between the mounting member 10 and the retainer 20 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 7) is caused to bulge outwardly while the liquid therein is forced to flow through the orifice into the chamber 68 to expand the latter as permitted by the elasticity of the diaphragm's central portion 42. Then on reversal in amplitude and resultantly expansion of the primary chamber 66, the stretched central diaphragm portion 42 self-retracts and thereby contracts the secondary chamber 68 forcing the liquid to flow back through the orifice into the primary chamber to complete the damping cycle. To assure otherwise free expansion and contraction of the secondary chamber 68, the space 73 between the diaphragm 34 and the lower mounting member 12 is vented to atmosphere through a plurality of holes 74 formed in the side of the latter part. In addition, a plurality of drain holes 75 are provided in the bottom of the lower mounting member 12 to prevent the accumulation of water therein which might freeze and present an obstacle to the movement of the diaphragm 34.

By virtue of the diaphragm 34 being configured at its rim 38 to both extend around and over the periphery of the partition and orifice assembly 36, there is formed a seal not only between the chambers but also a double seal between the chambers and the exterior resulting in excellent sealed integrity of the mount. Moreover, the diaphragm rim 38 is configured so as to permit limited substantially free or soft travel of the partition and orifice assembly 36 relative to the mounting members 10 and 12 below a predetermined low vibration amplitude of one mounting member relative to the other and to prevent such relative travel above such amplitude so that flow through the orifice between the chambers to effect damping does not occur until such prescribed low vibration amplitude is exceeded. For example, such free travel of the partition and orifice assembly 36 may be as much as ±1.0mm depending on the installation.

This limited substantially uninhibited partition movement provides precise amplitude control and is simply effected with a predetermined compliance of the diaphragm rim 38 between the sandwiching retainer 20 and lower mounting member 12. To this end, the diaphragm rim 38 is free formed as shown in FIG. 5 so as to have adjacent its perimeter an annular upstanding sealing bead 78 and an annular arcuate sealing face 80 that face in opposite directions. The sealing bead 78 has more effective compliance than the radially inwardly extending wall sections of the groove shoulders 40 and 46 and is deflected at assembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7 so as to tightly seal against the rubber on the interior lip of the retainer collar shoulder 62 while these partition capturing elastomeric shoulder or wall sections are preloaded to a predetermined extent dependent on the amplitude responsiveness desired as determined by the edge 60 of the lower mounting member engaging this shoulder. On the other hand, the hydraulically biased partition and orifice assembly 36 is alternately forced against the elastomeric shoulders 40 and 46 of the diaphragm rim so as to maintain tight sealing between the chambers 66 and 68.

The partition and orifice assembly 36 is of die cast metal construction as shown or may be plastic and comprises a pair of oval-shaped partition plates 84 and 86 with matching peripheries. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, both these plates span the cavity 64 to separate the chambers 66 and 68 and also cooperate to define a damping orifice 88 of characteristically long length and small diameter (e.g., 20-50:1) interconnecting the two chambers. To the latter end, the respective plates 84 and 86 have flat annularly extending mating faces 90 and 92 that are each formed with a double-ended channel 94 and 96 therein of uniform depth and cross-section and wall thickness, and which cooperatively define the orifice 88 as a planar (nonspiraling) passage extending between the plates along and adjacent their periphery in an oval path just inwardly of and along the diaphragm rim 38. In addition, the plates 84 and 86 are each formed with a right-angle opening 98 and 100 therethrough to one end only of their respective channel 94 and 96 and thereby to one end only of the orifice 88 so that it interconnects the chambers and has a length which may thereby be made substantially as expansive as the periphery of the plates as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7. On the other hand, one or both of the openings 98 and 100 may be made longer along their plate to shorten the effective length of the orifice to a desired length best suited to the particular vibratory system. Moreover, there may be formed a dam 101 in each channel as shown in FIG. 6 in the channel 96 of plate 86 resulting in a still shorter effective orifice if desired and in addition a short dead channel 102 that is blocked from the remainder of the active channel 96 by the resulting dam 103. A similar dead channel and dam arrangement is formed in the opposite partition plate 84 and together they form a dead space 104 to prevent leakage past the plate faces that would bypass the orifice. Furthermore, it will be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 that there are provided oval extending telescoping shoulders 106 and 108 on the respective partition plates 84 and 86 to locate and maintain proper alignment of the latter and in particular their channels.

Turning now to the hydraulic damping decoupler 37, this device is simply a rectangular plate 110 that is formed of metal as shown or plastic and has a peripheral elastomeric combination seal and cushion 112 of natural or synthetic rubber molded thereto about the perimeter thereof. The decoupler 37 is mounted for limited up and down movement in a cavity 114 that is formed between the partition plates 84 and 86 and is open through these plates through respective rectangular shaped openings 116 and 118 therein to the respective chambers 66 and 68 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6-9.

Limited volume change in the chambers 66 and 68 to effect hydraulic decoupling (elimination of the hydraulic damping) below a prescribed low amplitude at low frequencies is provided by the reciprocating movement of the decoupler 37 in response to the alternating pressure buildups in these chambers acting on the opposite sides of the decoupler plate 110 which is free to travel between the partition plates in response thereto. As best seen in FIGS. 7-9, the decoupler plate 110 is longer and wider than the plate openings 116 and 118 at the faces of the seal and cushion 112 so that the decoupler is sealed by the latter about the opening 116 or 118 of either of the partition plates to prevent flow between the chambers 66 and 68 through these openings in the partition.

According to the present invention, the decoupler 37 is constructed centrally of its seal and cushion 112 with one or more bypass ports 120 that directly connect the chambers 66 and 68 through the decoupler plate 110. As will be explained in further detail later, there may be only one bypass port 120 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6-9 or two such ports as shown in FIG. 10 or even more. The bypass ports 120 are all alike and have a considerably smaller length to diameter ratio (e.g., 1-2.0:1) than that of the damping orifice 88 (e.g., 20-50:1) and an effective diameter no larger than fifty percent (50%) that of the damping orifice so that the bypass is in effect choked off with large liquid displacement so as to not significantly reduce the damping yet acts to smoothen the transition between coupling and decoupling (i.e., the abruptness of decoupling). This effectively eliminates noise caused by slapping of the deooupler over and above the noise reducing ability of the material forming the cushion 112.

The decoupler 37 by virtue of its limited free travel with respect to the partition in response to slow alternating pressure buildup in the two chambers 66 and 68 thus effects cyclic volume change in the chambers so as to permit small vibratory amplitudes at low frequencies such as up to 2 Hz without forcing liquid to flow therebetween through the orifice 88 but while limited bypass liquid flow relative to the damping orifice is permitted to pass directly through the decoupler through the bypass ports 120. Thus, hydraulic damping is almost but not totally eliminated by a predeterminable amount below a prescribed low vibratory amplitude for further amplitude control in the mount apart from that provided by the above-described diaphragm rim 38 with its designed-in compliance. The bypass flow through the decoupler produces this slight damping with a sine-like wave form rather than a step wave in the essentially non-damping mode to avoid sensing of what would otherwise be abrupt changes in this mode and in the transition between this mode and the damping mode by the orifice 88. The damping decoupler 37 with bypass port(s) 120 also substantially extends the range of usage of the mount in that the amplitude control by the diaphragm rim is relatively limited and may better remain constant in size so as not to require changes in the associated other parts while the displacement of the damping decoupler can be readily tuned to meet various amplitude control criteria without requiring other changes in the mount simply by varying its size and/or extent of movement.

Moreover, the bypass through the decoupler allows even wider usage as the total bypass flow area can be readily changed along with change in the length of the bypass. For example, the length of the bypass port(s) 120 can be readily changed by adding a collar 122 about each bypass port to one or both sides of the decoupler plate 110. The collars 122 are selected to be of sufficient total thickness together with that of the decoupler plate to establish a bypass port length relative to its diameter that will maintaIn the existing damping level of the damping orifice 88 yet produce the desired smooth decoupler operation to reduce or eliminate noise. But even more importantly from a design and manufacturing and timing standpoint, it is also possible to design a basic mount with the highest damping level expected in usage and then reduce the damping to that required for other usages of the mount by simply adding more identical bypass ports and/or adjusting their length-to-diameter ratio by selective removal of the collars 122 or replacing them with thinner collars or by changing the port diameter. The bypass through the decoupler thus provides for a family of mounts that from a basic design can be quickly and easily modified or adapted to a particular vibration isolation problem.

The manufacture of the hydraulic-elastomeric mount is also simplified in that the bypass may be precisely formed with the decoupler for assured consistent operation and together with the decoupler simply positioned between the two plates 84 and 86 forming the partition and orifice assembly 36 and thereafter all these parts may be preassembled in the diaphragm 34 and then mounted therewith on the lower mounting member 12 to form the subassembly 32. Then at final assembly, this main subassembly is simply brought together with and secured by the tabs 30 to the retainer 20 of the other main subassembly 24 and preferably while both are fully submerged in the liquid to assure full fillage of the chambers. Also, it will be recalled that the retainer 20 is connected by the elastomeric body 18 to the upper mounting member 10 but is mechanically connected to the lower mounting member 12 by the bent over tabs 30 at final assembly. To assure that the mounting members 10 and 12 remain connected in the event that the elastomeric connection between the retainer 20 and the mounting member 10 is lost, there is provided a steel pin 140 which straddles the yoke-shaped mounting member 10 between its studs 14 and is secured at its opposite ends to a pair of upstanding flanges 12 formed on the retainer 20 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7.

The hydraulic-elastomeric mount by benefit of the present invention may thus be readily adapted and tuned to meet a specific application to give the desired damping in a quiet manner. Furthermore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the specific embodiments shown and described in detail are the preferred constructions, other practical embodiments may result from these teachings.

The above described preferred embodiments are thus illustrative of the invention which may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A hydraulic-elastomeric mount comprising a pair of mounting members, a hollow elastomeric body interconnecting said mounting members, an elastomeric diaphragm closing said elastomeric body and forming therewith a closed cavity that is filled with liquid, a rigid partition dividing said cavity into a chamber enclosed by said elastomeric body and a chamber enclosed by said diaphragm, a damping orifice connecting said chambers having a length-to-transverse dimension ratio in the range of 20-50:1 to effect damping, and a hydraulic damping decoupler mounted for free reciprocal movement on said partition in response to alternating pressure buildup in said chambers so as to effect cyclic volume change in said chambers to thereby permit vibratory amplitudes below a prescribed level without forcing liquid through said orifice and thus without hydraulic damping thereby, characterized by bypass port means providing a bypass passage through said decoupler connecting said chambers in parallel with said damping orifice, said bypass passage having a length-to-transverse dimension ratio in the range of 1-2:1 and a transverse dimension no larger than fifty percent that of said damping orifice so as to smooth the abruptness of decoupler movement to prevent slapping noise generation thereby without significantly reducing the damping by said damping orifice.
 2. A hydraulic-elastomeric mount as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the provision of a plurality of said bypass port means so as to significantly reduce the damping effectiveness of said damping orifice while continuing to smoothen the abruptness of decoupler movement.
 3. A hydraulic-elastomeric mount as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said bypass port means comprising at least one port extending through said decoupler, and collar means on at least one side of said decoupler arranged about said port so as to extend the effective length of said port.
 4. A hydraulic-elastomeric mount as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said bypass port means comprising at least one port extending through said decoupler and collar means on opposite sides of said decoupler arranged about said port so as to extend the length of said port. 